Watermelon Rind Preserves - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 quarts prepared watermelon rind
4 teaspoons salt
2 quarts cold water
1 thinly sliced lemon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
4 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
7 cups water

Preparation

To prepare watermelon rind: Trim green skin and pink flesh from thick watermelon rind.
Cut into 1\" pices.
Dissolve salt in 2 quarts water and pour over rind.
Let stand 5-6 hours.
Drain; rinse and drain again.
Cover with cold water and let stand 30 minutes.
Drain.
Sprinkle ginger over rind; cover with water and cook until fork-tender.
Drain.
Combine sugar, lemon juice and 7 cups water.
Boil 5 minutes; add rind and boil gently for 30 minutes.
Add sliced lemon and cook until the melon rind is clear.
Pack hot into hot jars, leaving 1/4\" head space.
Remove air bubbles.
Adjust caps.
Process 20 minutes in boiling water bath.